Packing list

The most important tip is to travel as light as possible when backpacking. More weight is more carrying is more pain and stress.

Also, if you have some space left in your backpack, you can buy some souvenirs. The most important item is a comfortable backpack. Buy a backpack between the 40 to 65 litre. It depends which kind of trip you are doing, the destination and your wishes.

We bought our backpacks at Marktplaats, a Dutch website where you can buy second hand items. The advantage of buying second hand is you can buy a good quality brand for a low price. It saves you a lot of money and it is environmentally friendly to buy second hand.

The second most important is a decent daypack to carry your travel essentials for your daytrips. You are not carrying your backpack every day, that seems quite logical to me. We have the North Face, Borealis with lots of compartments and a laptop sleeve. Besides a daypack,

I sometimes carry my normal daily bag with me when for example exploring a city and going out for dinner.

Backpacks, daypack en flightbag

Our backpacks

Remco found a Lowe Alpine, TFX Cerro Torre 65 + 15 and I bought a Lowe Alpine, Diran 55 + 15 for about one third of the originally price. Yeah, that makes us happy!

Please note that if you want to buy second hand which we encourage, you must take your time for your search. Only then you will find an undamaged, almost new bag for a low price.

We don’t know what to think about all those travel security items which are available on the market. Of course, it depends which country you visit and how safe it is to backpack. But should you hide your money in a money belt for example?

Every thief knows by now about this ‘secret’ hiding place. If you are wearing a money belt don’t put all your money in it for sure.

Travel essentials

Passport and vaccination booklet (also take a few copies with you)

Visa if needed

Flight tickets

Debit card and creditcard

Copy travel insurance

Driving licence

Copy’s reservations hotels

Important packing list items

TSA luggage locks. Connect between the two zippers and your bag is safe. During your flight you can lock your flight bag which is covering your backpack. And during bus rides the backpack must be stored in the lower part of the bus, than the lock is also handy. If you are doing long trips in a bus and you fall asleep maybe you want to lock your daypack. You can use them also if your room has no lock or you want to use a locker and they don’t provide a lock.

Pocket knife. We have a Victorinox Swiss army knife, because it is the most well-known quality brand. A pocket knife has multi purposes. When you want to save money on your journey bring your knife with you! It is less expensive to buy food from the supermarket or street than to go to a restaurant. We used it a lot for fruits we bought on the street especially for peeling and chopping mango’s and pineapples. And to open wine bottles with the corkscrew. Don’t put it in your carry-on luggage as you are not allowed to take a knife onboard the plane.

Water bottles. We are very happy with our 21 oz (0,6 L) bottles from Hydro Flask. These bottles are made from stainless steel and have a double wall vacuum insulation which keeps your drinks cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12 hours. Don’t buy plastic bottles but invest in stainless steel bottles. They are healthier (no BPA), eco friendly and also we prefer to drink water from a steel bottle rather than from a plastic bottle.

Packing cubes or mesh wash bags with zipper. We used mesh bags, because they are much cheaper and serve the same purpose. You can separate the dirty laundry from the rest of your clothes and the mesh wash bags keep your backpack organized. You can separate your socks, underwear, tees, pants and other stuff.

Plastic travel spork. Spoon, knife and fork in one. Put it in your daypack and you will never regret! We regular used this item. We love food and try lots of local food, we go to markets, grocery stores, food stalls and the spork is all the time your best friend. The spork is small and light weighted so don’t bother about that. And it is more sustainable than a disposable utensil and can save you money during your trip. For example preparing a sandwich or eating a salad from the supermarket.

Micro fiber towels. Regular towels are heavy, take in a lot of space and dry very slowly. If you are sleeping in hotels or guesthouses during your travel and towels are provided than choose to pack none. We packed 2 towels each, but we never used them. If you know you need them for your trip, these towels are great because they are light and dry quickly.

Dry bag and waterproof phone pouch. To keep your electronics dry. Perfect for a boat trip or going to the beach for example. Next time we are going to buy a dry bag when we bring our laptop and SLR camera with us.

Aloe Vera cooling gel. Very important to take care of your skin after a sunny day.

Eco friendly soap + soap box. The soaps we always use at home are completely plant based and made of 100% natural ingredients. Aleppo soaps (or olive oil soaps) are soft for your skin, keeps it moisturized and are palm oil free.

Toothbrush / toothpaste / toothbrush cover / floss

Deodorant

Shampoo / conditioner

Hair essentials

Women’s razor / men’s shaving stuff

Face cleanser. We always use almond and jojoba oil to clean our face and to moisturize our skin. Good for your skin, is vegan, 100% natural and eco-friendly.

Paper handkerchiefs

First aid kit

Any personal medicines

Paracetemol and ibuprofen

Mosquito repellent

Antihistamines

Bandages and gauze

Plasters in different sizes

Anti diarrheal medicines

Scissors

Wound dressing

Betadine Antibiotic / moisturize Ointment

Microporous tape

Condoms

Malaria pills if needed

Sanitary pads / tampons if needed

Clothes packing list

Pick the clothes you really need.

For me, it’s more difficult than for Remco. But hey, I am a woman and I really like clothes.

One thing was very clear; we packed too much clothes for our trip to Jamaica. This packing list is based on what we should pack now based on our experience. Normally, we are used to pack a suitcase, and this was the first time we carried a backpack.

If you know you must carry your backpack a lot, don’t pack too much. When you are traveling from hotel to hotel with a car than you know you don’t have to carry your backpack a lot.

It depends on the way you are traveling.

Women

Underwear 14 pcs

Bras 2 pcs

Tops 6 pcs

Trousers long 1 pc

Trousers short 2 pcs

Cardigan / sweater 1 pc

Longsleeve 1 pc

Little socks for sneakers 3 pcs

Dress 2 pcs

Skirts 2 pcs

Bikini 2 pcs

Swimsuit 1 pc

Sarong 1 pc (Can be used as a scarf, a dress and a blanket. Very handy!)

Sunhat 1 pc

Seeshoes 1 pc

Sandals 1 pc

Sneakers 1 pc

Flip flops 1 pc (How can you not pack these

Men

Underwear 14 pcs

Tees 5 pcs

Tanktops 5 pcs

Trousers long 1 pc

Trousers short 4 pcs

Cardigan / sweater 1 pc

Longsleeve 2 pc

Little socks for sneakers 3 pcs

Swim short 2 pcs

Sunhat 1 pc

Seeshoes1 pc

Evening shoes 1 pc

Sneakers 1 pc

Flip flops 1 p

Other packing list items

Hammam towels. We used them for going to the beach

A linen bag for doing a quick grocery, going to the market or to the beach. And you don’t want to use your daypack. Also great for not looking like a tourist.

Sleep mask and ear plugs. We never used them.

Healthy energy bars. In case you arrive and cannot find descent food and you are desperate in need for something to eat.

Drone. We don’t have one yet, but we certainly are going to buy one for our next trip!